Opening Verse Stakes

The Opening Verse Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Churchill Downs. A race on turf over a distance of one mile, it is open to horses of either sex age three and older. The race is named for Opening Verse, winner of the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, and was run as the Opening Verse Handicap from inception through 2008.

Opening Verse Stakes
Ungraded stakes race
LocationChurchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky,
United States
Inaugurated2004
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
Purse$116,500 added

Historical notes

The inaugural running of the Opening Verse took place on June 12, 2004, and was won by Senor Swinger.[1] Owned by prominent Californians Robert & Beverly Lewis and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert, Senior Swinger returned to win the race for a second time on June 18, 2005.[2]

In 2013 and again in 2020, weather conditions were such that for safety reasons the race was switched from the turf course to the dirt track.[3][4]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:34.10 @ 1 mile: Crafty Daddy (2020)
  • 1:40.41 @ 11/16 miles: Turallure (2011)

Most wins:

  • Senor Swinger (2004, 2005)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner
 Dist.
(Miles)		 Time Win $ Gr.
2022 Gray's Fable 4 Luis Saez Roger L. Attfield Steve Goldfine, Kari Provost & Jeff Zlonis 1 m 1:36.22 $96,722 B/T
2021 Set Piece 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Juddmonte Farm 1 m 1:38.26 $54,126 B/T
2020 Crafty Daddy 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin Brothers) 1 m 1:34.10 $71,730 B/T
2019 Siem Riep 5 James Graham Ben Colebrook Marc Detampel 1 m 1:35.07 $68,776 B/T
2018 Mr Cub 4 Chris Landeros Ian R. Wilkes Turf Stable Racing (Rusty Jones) 1 m 1:34.69 $42,780 B/T
2017 Pleuven 6 Corey Lanerie Philip A. Sims Nelson McMakin 1 m 1:36.15 $32,993 B/T
2016 Thatcher Street 5 Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian R. Wilkes Randall L. Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler, Amtietan LLC (Fred Merritt) 1 m 1:38.22 $39,780 B/T
2015 The Pizza Man 6 Florent Geroux Roger Brueggemann Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. 1-1/16 m 1:43.29 $32,400 B/T
2014 Regally Ready 7 Rosie Napravnik Steven M. Asmussen Vinery Stables 1-1/16 m 1:42.26 $39,660 B/T
2013 Silver Max 4 Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Mark Bacon & Dana Wells 1-1/16 m 1:44.34 $39,420 B/T
2012 Guys Reward 5 Corey Lanerie Dale L. Romans Michael J. Bruder 1-1/16 m 1:41.98 $44,820 B/T
2011 Turallure 4 Julien Leparoux Charles LoPresti Four D Stable (Donna Arnold) 1-1/16 m 1:40.41 $46,380 B/T
2010 Tizdejavu 5 Jesús Castañón Gregory J. Fox Michael Cooper & Pamela Ziebarth 1-1/16 m 1:42.35 $37,800 B/T
2009 Race not held
2008 Inca King 4 Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing Stable 1-1/16 m 1:42.39 $70,503 L/R
2007 Therecomesatiger 5 Jamie Theriot Thomas F. Proctor Charles R. Patton 1-1/16 m 1:43.64 $67,270 L/R
2006 Rush Bay 4 Rafael Bejarano Thomas M. Amoss Mueller Thoroughbred Stable, Ltd. & Phoebe Mueller 1-1/16 m 1:42.52 $67,580 L/R
2005 Senor Swinger 5 Brice Blanc Bob Baffert Robert Lewis & Beverly Lewis 1-1/16 m 1:42.07 $68,944
2004 Senor Swinger 4 Pat Day Bob Baffert Robert Lewis & Beverly Lewis 1-1/16 m 1:45.82 $68,758

References
  1. "Opening Verse H." Thoroughbred Daily News. 2004-06-13. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  2. "Senor Swinger proves best in Opening Verse". Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal, page C1. 2005-06-19. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  3. "Churchill Downs Race Day Notes for Sunday, June 2". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  4. "Opening Verse H." Thoroughbred Daily News. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
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